Transfers: Manchester United have tabled bids for four Real Madrid players

Ed Woodward, you are either a crafty genius or a man with far too much money to spend.

Manchester United are determined to prove they are still major players on te European scene. Last summer saw them agree to pay Radamel Falcao £200,000 a week and purchase Angel di Maria for £59.7m. This summer, with the club on the cusp of the Champions League group stages, United have bolstered their defence and midfield. Louis van Gaal still wants a centre defender and striker and, if the club can convince him to stay, David de Gea in sticks for next season. At the centre of all this is Real Madrid and the Ed Woodward masterplan. United, it has emerged, have bid for four Real players over the summer. We all know about the ultimately doomed attempts to buy Sergio Ramos, but Woodward's bidding has not stopped there. United have tabled bids for Karim Benzema, Rapael Varane AND Gareth Bale... twice. The club has offered £100m to get Bale over to Old Trafford and build the team around his attacking talents. It appears that the bids could have been made to openly mark their interest in signing the players, drive up de Gea's price and to turn the heads of some star names - much as Los Blancos have done with United's No.1. Were the club to get either of those three players, Woodward's scheme may not prove as loopy as it seems right now. [The Sun & ESPN] The Daily Mirror has another couple of United angles to run with today. They claim United will sign Barcelona's Pedro for £20m within the next 48 hours before turning their attentions to bringing in Real Madrid and Portugal defender Pepe. Liverpool may have to wait until right before the transfer window closes to shift Jose Enrique, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borrini. [Daily Telegraph] Lazio are interested in a Balotelli loan deal but will only commit to covering his wages if they qualify for the Champions League group stages. [Daily Mirror] As for Borrini - insane to think Sunderland were going to pay £12m for him last summer. The club would be lucky to get an offer for half of that now. Southampton have made a £7m bid for Celtic's 24-year-old Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk. [Daily Express] Birmingham are hoping to take Jesse Lingard off Manchester United's hands for £2.5m. [The Sun] Sunderland are two signature scribbles away from a couple of decent moves. Yann M'Vila and Leroy Fer, from Rubin Kazan and QPR respectively, are expected to bulk up Dick Advocaat's midfield options. [Shields Gazette]